Machine for manufacturing moistureproof cable coverings



G. zAPF 2,003,673

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING MOISTUREPROOF CABLE COVERINGS June 4, 193.5.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed March 25, 1931 /QMMMMHMMMWMMU@ June 4, 1935. Q ZAPF 2,003,673

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING MoIsTUREPRooF CABLE COVERINGS Original Filed March 25, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q- (1", Zapf Patented June 4, 1935 MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING MOIS- TUREPROOF CABLE COVERINGS Georg Zapf, Cologne, Felten & Gulleaume Germany,` assignor to Carlswerk Actien-Gesellschaft, Cologne-Mulheim, Germany Original application March 25, 1931, .Serial No.

525,297. Divided and this application January 16, 1933, Serial No. 652,088. In Germany April 15, 1930 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine fo'r manufacturing a cable covering which surrounds the core of an electric cable so as to protect it from moisture. This application is a division of my 5 application Serial No. 525,297 led March 25,

In electric cables it is usual to enclose the core of the cable in a lead covering to protect it against the penetration of liquid. A number of manufacturing processes for applying the lead covering'have already been proposed in order to obtain a greater homogeneousness of the covering. None of the hitherto proposed methods have been suitable to avoid with certainty the occurrence of weak places such as are caused by hollow spaces, oxide deposit and seams. In using lead as covering material it has also been found disadvantageous that the lead covering becomes brittle in cables which are constantly subject to vibration. This is due to intercrystalline corrosion and -is especially noticeable in marine cables where it has a particularly `detrimental effect.

In my copending application Serial No. 525,297 I have described a method by which it is possible to replace the lead covering by a metallic envelope which is equal to the lead covering as regards protection from the penetration of liquid into the interior of the cable, but which does not show the intercrystalline corrosion due to vibration which is a property of lead.

The invention is more particularly 4described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate examples of the invention.

Figs. 1 and 3 show two constructional examples of a twisting machine according to the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a detail of the twisting machine according to Fig. 1.

In Fig. l a twisting machine is shown which is intended to draw at bands with longitudinal acute angled folds from the reels of the twisting machine and to lay the bands about the cable core. The folded bands a are wound on the reels b which are carried by the revolving frame of. the twisting` machine. e is a container filled with compound mass. In the wall of the container e, on the side towards the reels b of the twisting machine, a disc c is rotatably mounted. This disc c has a central opening for the cable core, and at its circumference a number of angular slots d (see Fig. 2) corresponding to the number of bands to be wound about the cable core. The wall of the container e, farther from the disc c, has a guiding bushing g for facilitating the passage of the cable core out of the container e, which in the drawing is shown as a twisting die (which, however, is not absolutely necessary). When making the metal covering the cable core is drawn through the container e by means of a drawing off drum, such as is usual in twisting machines, and in the compound bath the folded bands a coming from the reels b of the twisting machine are folded round it, which bands, while being drawn through the slots d have been given the necessary angle to enable them to interengage smoothly. The disc c must rotate at the same speed as the revolving frame carrying the reels b of the twisting machine, and therefore is toothed at its circumference and coupled by means of a chain h with the drive of the twisting machine. The guiding bushing g, as shown in the drawings, is rotatably mounted in the walls of the container and is also constructed as a sprocket wheel and coupled with the drive of the twisting machine by a chain. This arrangement serves for obtaining a considerable smoothing of the cable covering.

Fig. 3 shows a twisting machine which is intended for drawing unfolded bands from the reels of the twisting machine and providing them with longitudinal acute angled folds before winding them round the cable core. In this gure the same letters are used as in Fig. l for corresponding parts. differs from that shown in Fig. 1 essentially by the arrangement of several discs i, 1c, Z which serve the purpose of providing the unfolded bands drawn from the reels b which are carried by the revolving frame of the twisting machine with longitudinal acute angled folds before they are laid. In this figure, smoothing rollers 11. are also provided between the twisting die g and the drawing off drum m. Y

With the machine described a compact flexible covering, closed in itself, which gives the cable considerably greater resistance than a lead covering, is obtained.

The vessel filled with the sealing mass may be capable of being heated in order to make the material in question fluid as desired. It is also possible to use a closed container and to keep the sealing mass under pressure.

What is claimed is:

l. A machine for manufacturing a cable covering, which surrounds the core of an electric cable so asto protect it from moisture, compris-V ing a revolving frame carrying several reels adapted to receive flat bands, means for folding the bands to an acute angle anda single con- The machine shown in this figure bands around the core 'of the cable takes place.

2. A machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for folding the bands comprise a rotatable disc arranged in one wall of the container and having a central circular opening for the admission of the core of the'cable into the interior oi the container and a nu'mber of cir-v cularly arranged acute angled slots, corresponding to the 'number of bands to be twisted around thecore of the cable, for the passage of the folded K bands therethrough and for obtaining acertain 2,003,673 rainer in which the twisting of me said folded 4. A machine asvclaimed in claim 1, in which the container-has an opening through which thecore of the cable passes out of the container which opening is designed as a twisting die, the

machine further comprising a drive for the revolving frame, and means for rotating the twisting die around the axis oi the cable, said means including achain which couples the twisting die to the drive of the revolving frame.

5. A machine as claimed in claim 1, in whichI 10 the container has an opening through which the coreof the cable passes out o! the container.l

which opening is designed as a twisting die, the machine further comprising rollers behind the twisting die for smoothing ,the surface of the 15 cable covering consisting of twisted bands.

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